Immature Stages and Reproductive Characteristics of the Lizard Tick, Ixodes asanumai (Acarina : Ixodidae)

Abstract

We reared all stages of Ixodes asanumai (Acarina : Ixodidae), a tick parasitic on the lizard Eumeces okadae in Miyake-jima, Izu Islands and described the morphological characteristics of its larva and nymph revealed by scanning electron microscope observation. In addition, body size, weight, and life cycle parameters were measured under the laboratory condition. The number of eggs was positively correlated with the body weight of engorged female. The number of eggs produced per mg body weight and the percentage of total egg weight to the body weight were calculated to be 11.1 and 49.4%, respectively.